Thursday, 4 September 2014

Mock interview or sample Interview

(Here are excerpts from the interview of few successful candidates for your reference.)

Scenario-1:An interviewer is taking interview of a Computer Engineering student who has cleared the entrance test and GD for admission in his college.

Interviewer: Tell me about yourself.

Student: "I was born in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh and attended Scindia School. Ever since I was a teenager, I tinkered with computers. It was my hobby, my passion, and my way of learning. Like most kids I enjoyed computer games. When my folks gave me a computer as a reward for good marks in 10th Class, I mastered DOS, Windows, and WordPerfect within six months. I then went on to teach myself programming basics.

By the time I passed 12th Class, I knew I wanted to study computer engineering. From that point on, everything fell into place. My life revolved around the same. By my junior year at Engineering College in Nagpur, I decided I wanted to work for a major IT Company but I also wanted to master in other fields of handling business so that I can develop an overview of expectations of the company from me. That is why I decided to pursue MBA before joining any IT Company. I now want to graduate from this reputed college so I can be at the forefront of starting a career into a reputed IT Company. I am prepared to answer any questions you may have about my education and experience.

Interviewer: But you did tell me about your schooling, wasn't that all about your education?

Student: Yes sir, I did tell you about my school and subject preferences but can tell you a lot more about my engineering experiences and lessons I learnt from them, that is, if you allow me.

Interviewer: Frankly speaking, I have no idea about engineering stuff as I am a commerce student. So if you will tell me about you engineering course and all, I don't know how will I understand them, and above all, how will I know you are speaking the right thing?

Student: Hahaha.. You surely are very frank sir, so I will also be very frank to you. What I was about to tell you about my engineering days are just my experiences I had and the learning I get from them so far. They have nothing to do with my engineering course. Also, what I have heard about you from my friend's cousin, who is an alumni of this college, is that you are the most amazing professor with remarkable diversified knowledge base. So I can be very sure about your knowledge of computer engineering stream.

Interviewer: OK..So you are here with a lot of research and all. hmmm.. You seem to have done a bit of homework.

Student: Thank you for the compliment sir, I always like to be ready with my home work as it gives you an unmatched confidence.

Interviewer: Keep this attitude for the rest of your life as well. You will be informed about the final decision of the admission committee. All the best.

Scenario-2:

An interviewer (Mr. Dubey) taking interview of a fresher candidate (Rachit) who has cleared CAT and scored well in GD session.

Ritesh: May I come in sir?

Mr. Dubey: Hello Ritesh, please come in. Take your seat.

Ritesh: Hello sir, Thank you.

Mr. Dubey: So you have scored 97 percentile in CAT. Congrats.. What do you think? Is it a great achievement?

Ritesh: Thank you Sir. Yes, it is a great achievement as I had put in a real hard work in the preparation. But at the same time it is only half a battle won.

Mr. Dubey: What are the major reasons for your success?

Ritesh: Many years ago I learned an important lesson from Mr. Dewakar Sinha, my first most important mentor. He told me his secret to success was to 'Look at each day as a new opportunity to be your very best. Set high goals, be honest, never say no, and be in the company of people who share your passion for doing their best.' I've always remembered that advice and try to live it every day. While preparing for CAT, I used to be very self motivated, determined and honest. I really liked working hard and enjoyed what I did and I also tried to surround myself with people who shared similar passions. I generally thrive in such environment. I am looking forward to find same environment in this institute.

Mr. Dubey: Why do you want to study in this institute?

Ritesh: I've always wanted to gain knowledge instead of mere earning a degree. This institute has got several years reputation in the field of academics and a long list of experienced and talented faculty. This was the main reason for my interest in this institute. Also, I have been in touch with a number of alumni of this institute for their guidance regarding my CAT preparations. I could pursue this course anywhere, but I'd rather study in an institute whose products I trust.

Mr. Dubey: Well. Ritesh. It was nice talking to you. You will get the admission department's final decision in a while.

Ritesh: Thank you sir, have a nice day.

Scenario-3:

An interviewer (Mr. Mehta) asking questions from a candidate (Nisha) who was working in a BPO part time along with her BA. She has scored well in entrance test and GD.

Mr. Mehta: Hello Nisha, so how are you feeling today? Nervous or excited or both?

Nisha: Hello Sir (With a courteous smile). Yes sir, I am excited as well as nervous as you can see. But I know how to handle stress as I have done it before as well.

Mr. Mehta: Really. so how do you manage stress with work?

Nisha: Stress is a part of life so one must accept it as it comes in the way. When I am confronted with stress, I tend to find out the cause of it. There are various causes for stress, it may be due to self reason or may be due to others too. If I see there are people who are adding to my stress level then I believe in discussing with them and focusing on the professional as well as personal issues that lead to such stressful situation. So what ever be the cause, I approach it with a flow chart method, i.e. starting with the root cause and doing the follow up. One tends to lose temper but life/work teaches you to stay calm and use logical ways to find out the solution. This is the only way to achieve your pre-determined goal within time frame, I believe.

Mr. Mehta: Do you have a goal? Where do you see yourself in 5 to 7 years from now?

Nisha: Setting goal is very important for me sir, so I do have set a goal for me. Although it's certainly difficult to predict things far into the future, I know what direction I want to develop toward. Within three years, I would like to become the very best HR Manager for the company that hires me in the campus placement after 18 months from now. In fact, my personal career mission statement is to become a world-class expert for Human Resources. I will work toward becoming the expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities that might be presented in the long term.

Mr. Mehta: It feels so good to hear such motivating future plans from kids your age. I wish you all the very best. You will soon get to know the final decision of the admission committee.

Nisha: Thanks a lot for your compliment sir. Have a nice day ahead.

Scenario-4:

An interviewer (Mr. Tyagi) is in conversation with a candidate (Archana) who does not seem to be much open to people, although her entire academic life and score in written test are commendable. But her GD performance is not that great. Mr. Tyagi wants to examine if Archana is worth giving a chance in his institute.

Archana: May I come in Sir?

Mr. Tyagi: Please, have your seat.

Archana: Thank you sir.

Mr. Tyagi: So Archana, you are a commerce student and want to pursue finance?

Archana: Yes Sir. I have completed B. Com with Accounts Honors. I was always interested in numbers and figures, so have decided to become a finance manager since childhood.

Mr. Tyagi: What qualities do you feel a successful manager should have?

Archana: The key quality should be leadership--the ability to be the visionary for the people who are working under them. The person who can set the course and direction for subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their abilities.

Mr. Tyagi: But Archana, what I can make out from our conversation is that you are not a very outgoing person. Is there a reason for this or do you consider this as your weakness?

Archana: Yes sir. you observed it very right that I am not a very extrovert person. There is no specific reason for the same and I don't consider this as a weakness. Throughout my academic life, I have performed the way I decided and was expected to. I never fell short on my professors' expectation and performed my duties well. My little reserve nature has never been a hurdle for me.

Mr. Tyagi: If I were to ask your professors to describe you, what would they say?

Archana: I believe they would say I'm a very devoted person, that I put my mind to the task at hand and see to it that it's accomplished. They would say that if they ever had something that needed to be done, I was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the knowledge in real world settings. And I am not just guessing what they would say, in fact, I'm quite certain they would say those things because I have with me several letters of recommendation from my professors, and those are their very words. I can show them to you as well.

Mr. Tyagi: If you had to live your life over again, what would you change?

Archana: That's a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to continually look back and wish that things had been different in the past. But I also remember that things in the past cannot be changed, that only things in the future can be shaped. That's why I continually strive to improve myself each and every day. That's also the reason why I want to become the very best finance manager the company, which will hire me, has ever had. To make positive change. And all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question, there isn't anything in my past that I would change. I look only to the future to make changes in my life.

Mr. Tyagi: Well said Archana. I am very impressed I must say. I wish you all the best in life. You can leave for the day. The final decision of the admission committee will be conveyed to you soon. Thank you.